Switch-stand.



I. W. WALLS,

SWITCH STAND.

MPUCATION HLED MAR. a 1914.

Patented Nov. 6, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1..

J. w. WALLS.

SWITCH STAND. APPLICATION map MAR. 6, Ham. v PatentedNov. 6, 1917.

a SHEETSSHEET 2 u m e o 0 m l. W. WALLS.

SWITCH STAND.

APPLICATION man MAR. 45. 19.4.

Patented Nov. 6, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

mma

mhimuomzo (l Noma JAME's'wj WALLS, or PUEBLO; coLoR'Ano.

swiron-sreivnl Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 6, 1914; Serial in). 822,827.

To all'wkoiii it may concern:

Be it known that LJAMES -W. WALLS, a CltlZBIlOf the United States,'res1ding:at

Pueblo, in the county of Pueblo and State'of 1 Colorado; have invented certain new and useful Improvements in SwitclPStands, of which the-following is a specification, ref erence being had therein to the accompanying drawin g.

This invention relates to a continuous combination interlocking slip-switch; theobjectbeing-to provide a switch which is so constructed that the switch points are eliminated, thereby overcoming the diihculties now existingwith switches of that character in use. I i v p A further object of the invention is to provide a switch in which stub switches or swing rails'ai'e enlarged for connecting' the gap of the rails of the main and side rails together; the ends of the niain and side rails being connected together by plates on which the rails are firmly bolted in order to allow'the plates to contract and expand with tlie rails-in such a n annerthat all danger of th'eflexible and swing rails binding in their movements; is prevented.

Another object' of the invention is topro vide novel means forfoperatingthe fiexible and swiiig rails together with means for locking the same in adjusted position; said oper'ating and locking means being operated by a combinationinterlocking switchstand through the medium of which, the rails can be quickly swung into their adjusted positions andlocked.

Another and further object oftheinvention is to provide a construction which is exceedingly simple, the flexible and swing rails being so mounted upon'thebase'or connecting plate's of the main and side rails, thata free movement is obtainedv 7 Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafterset forth and the novel featuresthereof defined by the appended claims.

I11 the 'drawiiigs" 7 1 Figure l,indicates a top plan viewshowingthe application of my invention;-

mounting the same;

Fig. 3, is a top plan view: of'the swing rails showing the manner of mounting the same;

Fig. 4, is a transverse section through" Fig. 3; Fig. 5, is a vertical section through in locking switch stand Fig. this an enlarged topplan view of the head plate'of the stand; i

F ig. 7 is an enlarged elevation of the head; i

Fig. 8, is an enlarged section taken on the line.aa of Fig. 7; i

Fig; 9, is a detail enlarged vertical se'ction showing the locking mechanism for the lever;

Fig. 10, is an enlargedeleration of the spacing block,-'showing the'rails in section.

Lik nuinerals'of reference re'ferto like parts in the several figures of the drawings. In the drawings, 1 and 2 indicate the rails of the main track and 3 and at, therails of the SWlCCh track; the main rail 2' and the 7 switch rail 3 beiiig formed with a gap at the junction thereof, the ends of wliich are cont d togetherbya connecting or bas'eplate' 5 spiked to'tlie ties, upon whiclrthe'respectlVQQHClS of the main sw tch rails are securely fb'olted and the converging ends of these rails are connected bv SJfiClli blocks 6 and '7 provided with bolt openings 8; for the "purpose hereinafter fully described.

By' niounting 'the ends of theinaiir rails andswitc'li rails rigidly upon a continuous baseplate, the plate will expand and contract with'the expansionof the rails in order to prevent the swingrail which will be later described; from becoming wedged between the rails in its swinging movement.

The base plate 5 is provided with'a central depression9 inwhich'is mounted, a central depression iOof a railplate 11 upon which 11 are preferably secured in position upon thebaseplate 5by a strap or bar 15 extend ing through apertures substantially in the same-mannenas disclosed in my patent Patented Nov. 6, 1917. v

improved construction of combination interis securelyfastened a swing rail 12 by angled ti l numbered 909,351, in order to form an exceedingly strong and durable pivot for the swing rail.

The main rails 1 and 2 are provided with gaps at the intersection of the switch rails 3 and l and the ends thereof'are mounted upon tapering base plates 16 and 17 which are spiked to the ties in a similar manner to the base plate 5 and as the ends of the respective rails are securely anchored upon these plates, the plates expand and contract with the rails. The intersecting portions of the switch rails and main rails are connected together by spacing blocks 18 and 18; each being provided with a suitable bolt opening.

Arranged between the gaps formed in the main rails, are flexible stub rails 19 and 20 securely bolted to the ends of the main rail at one end, by fish plates which engage angled plates 21 carried by the flexible rails which are also provided with bolt housings 22 at one end to receive the locking bolts, as will be hereinafter fully described.

ln constructing a switch as above set forth, it will be seen that all switch points have been eliminated and swing rails substituted therefor which are so mounted upon base plates which connect the ends of the main rails and switch rails atthe gaps formed therein, that the flexible stub rails and swing rails are free to move upon the base plates in order to form a continuous rail switch, thereby eliminating the shock and jar caused by a train passing over a switch as now constructed and by means of this construction, the danger of a train becoming derailed, is greatly reduced.

In connection with a continuous rail switch as hereinbefore described, I employ a combination interlocking switch stand 22 by means of whichthe swing rail and flexi" ble rails areoperated simultaneously in connection with locking bolts 23, 2l-, 2-5 and 26, which are, mounted in the spacing blocks and, are adapted to extend in the housings carried by the swing rail and flexiblerail so as to lock the movable rails in their adjusted positions, whereby the switch is firmly locked when shifted in either of its positions.

The switch stand 22? comprises a base 27 having a skeleton portion 28 extending upwardly therefrom, terminating in a depending tubular portion 29 in which is mounted a tube 30 having its lower end mounted in a bearing 31 formed on the base plate 27.

The'upper portion of the skeleton stand, is provided with a top plate 32 having notches 33 and 34; to receive the operating lever, which will be hereinafter fully described.

Arranged upon the top plate is a head mounted within the tube 30.

The lower end of the plunger 43 is pro vided with a transversely arranged cotter pin li which extendsrout through a slot formed in the tube 30 for fastening a collar %6 to the plunger, said collar being slidably mounted upon the tube 30 and is preferably provided with an annular groove, into which extend pins l7 carried by a yoke l8 formed on one end of a bell crank lever l9 which is pivotally mounted upon a suitable shaft carried by supports arranged upon the base of the stand so that when the plunger is reciprocated by raising or lowering the lever 38, the bell crank will be swung upon its pivot.

Keyed to the tube 30 below the collar 2L6 is a sleeve portion 50 of a crank arm 51 having a bifurcated portion 52 which is 0s cillated by the movement of the switch lever when swung horizontally from one of the notches or 3d as the case may be.

It will be seen that when the lever is raised so as to move the same out of one of these notches, the head is free to rotate upon the plate so asto operate the crank. upward movement of the lever, the plunger rod is operated so as to swing the bell crank, and the connection of these cranks to the operating bars of the switch lock bolts, will be hereinafter fully described.

inv order to, provide means for locking the switch lever in either of its adjusted positions so as to prevent the same from being raised out of its notch, I provide the lug d0 of the lever 39 with an opening 53 into which is. adapted to extend, a spring-actuated bolt 5% mounted: in the head and oper ated by a pivoted lever which is engaged by the w'ardcof a key not shown, capable of being extended through a keyhole 56 formed in the casing inialinement with which, is

arranged a key post 57. 1 p 1 it will be seen that whenthe ward of the key is turned into engagement with the lever 55, the bolt will be moved out of the openingof the lug of the lever in order to allow the same tobe raised into substantially horizontal position so that the samecan be oscillated and when the lever is placed in the other notch and dropped into its normal position, the bolt by the action of the spring enters the opening of the lug of the lever and locks thesame in that position, where In the s by an automatic switch lock is obtained for c locking the:lever in either ofits adjustedpositions." r

Mounted within the bifurcated end 52 of the crank arm 51'is an operating rod 58 which extends under the plates 16 and 17' and is connected to the respective free-ends ofthe stub rails 19 and 20 by bolts 59 and 60 passing through slots formed in the side of the main track as clearly shown, the.

other arms of thesegbell' cranks being c.onnected to thefree ends of the swing rail 9 by rods and 66 through the medium of bolts 67 and 68which pass'through openings formed in the base plate 5 and are con- 'nected to the rail plate carrying the-swing rail as clearly shown. Thebell cranks 63 and 61 are somounted that when'the swing rail rod 62is recip rocated they are moved in opposite directions so that one pulls on one endbf the rail, while the other shoves on the other end of the rail so as to swing it into either of its adjusted positions.

Pivotally connected to the free armof the 1 bell crank 49 is a bolt-operating rod 70 which isconnected to one of the arms of a" crank 71, to which is connected, a rod 72 having 'connectionwith a detector bar 73 mounted adj acent the switch rail 4 and constructed substantiallyas disclosed in my Patent"#987,027 dated March 1st, 1911.

Connected to the rod 72 is the arm of a crank 7% mounted on one of the adjacent ties to which is connected a rod 72 which extends under the switch and main rails and has aconnectionwithcranks 75.; 76 and 77 to which are connected the bolts 24, 25 and 26 working in the respective spacing blocks and adapted to be forced into the housings car ried by the angled plates of the swing and flexible rails in order to lock the swing and stub rails in their adjusted positions.

It will be noticed that the lock bolt24 cooperates with one end of the swing rail and that the bolts 25 and 26 cooperate with the free ends of the flexible rails and while I have shown housings formed on the angled plates to receive the bolts which are slidably mounted within the spacing blocks, it is of course understood that the housings can be dispensed with as the bolt projecting outwardly beyond the spacing block will prevent the rails from moving.

Connected to the free end of the rod 72 is a crank 81 to which is connected a detector bar-operating rod 82 connected to a detector bar 83 mounted alongsideone of the main'rail s'constructed substantially in the samemanner as disclosed in my patent above referred to, these detector bars operating" and accomplishing the same result as fully disclosed in my patent;

A longitudinally arranged rod 84 is also connected to the crank 81 having-a crank S5- mounted on a bracket connected to its freeend which is connected to a transversely arranged rod 86 extending under themainp rails having a connection'with a crank 87 at its other end to which is connected the lockingbolt 23' working in the opening formed in the spacing block 6 and adapted tocooperate with the housings formed on theends of the angled plates of the swing rail forlocking the same in its adjusted position and it will be seen that bythe above construction of connecting the locking bolts, r they will be operated in unison in order to release and lock theswing rail and flexible: I rails in their adjusted positions'by the move-i ment .of the switch lever, and by the construction as disclosed when theswitch lever 1s in raised position: it is free toturn horizontally soas to rotate the tube which op erates thecrank: and operatingv bar so. as to swingthe swing rail and stub rails and when,

in. this position, by loweringthe-lever, the movement ofthe rails will be locked.

It vwill be seen thatthe construction of 1., A switch .stand having. a movablv switch stand as herein shown, provides mounted head carrvinga pivotally mounted switch a lever sprovided with an opening, mechanism operated by the switch lever in both of its movements to release and operate lever for locking said lever in lowered po sition.

2. The combination with a switch stand, of a pivoted lever, cranks operated by the movement of said lever, said lever being provided with an opening, and a spring actuated bolt adapted to enter said opening when said lever is in lowered position.

3. The combination with a switch having movable stub rails, of means for locking said stub rails, a switch stand having a lever for releasing said locking means by the vertical movement thereof, means for swinging said rails by the horizontal movement of said lever, and a spring-actuated key-controlled bolt adapted to enter an opening in said lever for locking said lever in lowered position.

4. In a switch stand, the combination --movable'switch rails,--and a springactuated bolt arranged to enter the opening of said with movable rails, of means for locking said rails, an oscillating tubular member mounted in said stand, a connection between said member and movable rails, a plunger mounted in said tubular member, a connection between said plunger and looking means, a lever having a connection with said plunger and the tubular member for operating the same, said lever being provided with an opening, and a key-operated spring-actuated bolt arranged to enter the opening of said lever for locking said lever in lowered position.

5. The combination with movable switch rails and means for locking said rails, of a switch, stand provided with a plate having notches, of a head movably mounted upon said plate, a tube extending through said head, a plunger mounted within said tube, cranks having connections with said tube and plunger, a lever mounted in said head having a sliding connection with said plunger and tube, and capable of moving in a vertical direction into and out of said notches for releasing said locking means before the movement of said rails, said lever being provided with an opening, ,and a spring actuated bolt adapted to enter the opening of said lever for locking said lever in an adjusted position.

6. The combination with movable switch rails and means for locking said rails, of a switch stand provided with a plate having notches, of a head movably mounted upon said plate, a tube extending through said head, a plunger mounted within said tube, cranks having connection with said tube and plunger, a lever mounted in said head having a connection with said plunger and tube, capable of moving in a vertical direc tion into and out of said notches for releasing sa-id locking means before the move- Bopies of this patent may be ebtained for access:

ment of said rails, said lever being provided with an opening, and a spring actuated bolt adapted to enter said opening when said lever is in lowered position for locking said lever.

' 7. Thecombination with movable switch rails and means for locking sa1d ra1ls, of a i switch stand provided with a plate having notches a. head movably mounted upon said plate, 'a tube extending through said head,

a plunger mounted within said tube, cranks having connections with said tube and plunger, a lever mounted in said head provided with a lug having a sliding comiection with said plunger and tube, and capable of mov-. ing in a vertical direction into and out of said notches, for releasing said, locking vided with notches, a head mounted upon said switch stand, a lever pivotally mounted in said head, cooperating with said.

notches, a crank operated by the vertical F movement of said lever into and out of said notches, a second crank operated by. the horizontal movement of said head, said lever being provided witha-n opening, and a spring actuated bolt arranged to enter the opening of said lever when in a lowered position.

in testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

7 JAMES "W. 'WALLS.

ll itnesses ORLAND LEAMON, G120. A. VVALLs.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

